Japan's air force confirms the deaths of 2 crew in a training plane crash
TOKYO — Japan's air force chief on Thursday confirmed the deaths of two service members whose training aircraft crashed last week.
The T-4 plane with two aboard crashed into a reservoir minutes after takeoff from Komaki Air Base in the central Japanese prefecture of Aichi on May 14.
Air Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff Gen. Hiroaki Uchikura told reporters Thursday that autopsies showed that the two, aged 29 and 31 years, died two minutes after takeoff.
The cause of the crash is under investigation. The air force grounded all remaining 196 of the training planes for emergency inspection.
The crash is the latest in a series of defense aircraft accidents in recent years and comes at a time when Japan is accelerating a military buildup to deter China's growing influence in the region. Japan has doubled its defense spending, raising concern that funding for weapons may be prioritized over safety.
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CTV News
5 days ago
- CTV News
A Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashes into a school in Dhaka and kills at least 25 people
Firemen check the wreckage of a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft that crashed onto a school campus in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Monday, July 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Al-emrun Garjon) DHAKA, Bangladesh — A Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into a school in Dhaka, the country's capital, shortly after takeoff on Monday afternoon, killing the pilot and 24 other people, most of whom were students, officials said. The jet crashed and caught fire, leaving also 171 people, mostly students, injured. They were rescued from the school's smoldering two-story building, officials said, many with burns, taken away in helicopters, ambulances, motorized rickshaws and the arms of firefighters and parents. Initially, reports after the crash said 20 people died. Five died of their injuries overnight. Doctors said late Monday that the condition of about two dozen injured remained critical. The Chinese-made F-7 BGI training aircraft experienced a 'technical malfunction' moments after takeoff at 1:06 p.m. local time, and the pilot attempted to divert the plane to a less populated area before crashing into the campus of Milestone School and College, according to a statement from the military. Many relatives waited overnight at a specialized burn hospital for bodies of their loved ones. Around midnight, Mohammed Abdur Rahim was looking for his cousin Afia Akter in a hospital. 'We could not find my cousin. She is missing. Doctors here have asked us to go to other hospitals,' he told The Associated Press. Students said the school's buildings trembled violently, followed by a big explosion that sent them running for safety. A desperate scene soon unfolded at the crash site, as panicked relatives searched for loved ones. Screams filled the air at a nearby hospital. The Milestone school is located in Dhaka's Uttara neighborhood, about an 11 kilometres (7 miles) drive from the A.K. Khandaker air force base. The school is in a densely populated area near a metro station and numerous shops and homes. The pilot, Flight Lt. Mohammed Toukir Islam, made 'every effort to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas toward a more sparsely inhabited location,' the military said, adding that it would investigate the cause of the accident. It is the deadliest plane crash in the Bangladeshi capital in recent memory. In 2008, another F-7 training jet crashed outside Dhaka, killing its pilot, who had ejected after he discovered a technical problem. The government announced a national day of mourning on Tuesday, with flags to fly at half-staff across the country. Mosammat Sagorika, who scored four goals on Monday to defeat Nepal in an under 20 women's South Asian soccer championship match, dedicated the country's win to the victims of the jet crash. 'Many people have died, and many are injured. So, we all are sad,' the 17-year-old Sagorika told reporters. At the crash site Monday afternoon, a father sprinted with his daughter cradled in his arms. A mother cried out, having found her younger child, but desperately searched for her older one. Another father described his feeling of helplessness while waiting to learn the fate of his daughter. 'The plane crashed on the building where my daughter was. My wife called me, but I was praying so I could not pick up,' Jewel, who goes by one name, said at the scene. 'When I came here I saw there was a huge fire. There was a dead body of a child.' Luckily, his daughter was safe, he said, but he saw many other children suffering from burns. Students also scrambled to see what had happened. 'We fought with the crowd and the soldiers to get close to the crash site in our school,' said Estiak Elahi Khan, who is in the 11th grade. 'What I saw I can't describe that ... that's terrible.' Doctors at Uttara Adhunik Hospital said more than 60 students, many between the ages of 12 and 16, were transferred to a special hospital for burn victims. By Monday evening, rescuers continued to scour the debris, searching for bodies. A crane was being used to remove debris. Bangladesh's interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, also pledged an investigation, and he expressed his deep sorrow over the 'heartbreaking accident.' He called it 'a moment of deep national grief.' Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed shock and sadness. 'Our hearts go out to the bereaved families,' Modi said in a post on X. 'India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to extend all possible support and assistance.' Rafiqa Taha, a student who was not present at the time of the crash, said by phone that the school, with some 2,000 students, offers classes from elementary grades through high school. 'I was terrified watching videos on TV,' the 16-year-old said. 'My God! It's my school.' By Julhas Alam Associated Press videographer Al-emrun Garjon contributed from Dhaka.
CTV News
5 days ago
- CTV News
Death toll rises to 16 after a Bangladesh Air Force jet crashes into Dhaka school
Firemen check the wreckage of a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft that crashed onto a school campus in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Monday, July 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Al-emrun Garjon) DHAKA, Bangladesh— A Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into a school campus in northern Dhaka on Monday, killing at least 16 people, including its pilot, and injuring dozens, officials and local media said. According to the military and a fire official, the Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI aircraft crashed into the campus of Milestone School and College, in Dhaka's Uttara neighborhood, on Monday afternoon, where students were taking tests or attending regular classes. Saidur Rahman, a National Burn Institute official in Dhaka, told Bangladesh's leading English daily, The Daily Star, reported that the death toll rose to 16 within hours. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP's earlier story follows below. A Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into a school campus in northern Dhaka on Monday, killing at least 1 person and injuring dozens, according to the military and a fire official. The Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI aircraft crashed onto the campus of Milestone School and College, in Dhaka's Uttara neighborhood, on Monday afternoon, where students were taking tests or attending regular classes. The military said the jet took off at 1:06 p.m. local time and crashed soon after, catching fire immediately. Bangladesh's leading English daily, The Daily Star, reported more than 100 injuries based on data from various hospitals. Local media indicated most of the injured were students and were transported to different medical facilities, including a military hospital. Parents and relatives panicked at the scene as rescuers, using tri-cycle rickshaws or whatever was available, transported the injured. Authorities have not released details of the deceased. Rafiqa Taha, a student at the school who was not present at the time of the crash, told The Associated Press by phone that Milestone School and College, with some 2,000 students, runs classes from elementary to twelfth grade. On Monday, she said, some students were taking tests while others attended regular classes. 'I was terrified watching videos on TV,' said the 16-year-old student. 'My God! It's my school.' The Bangladesh Army's public relations office confirmed in a brief statement that the downed F-7 BGI aircraft belonged to the Air Force. Fire official Lima Khanam stated by phone that at least one person died and four others were injured, though she did not provide further details. The Associated Press
Japan Forward
5 days ago
- Japan Forward
Historic Crested Ibis Release Set for June 2026 in Ishikawa
このページを 日本語 で読む The city of Hakui, located on the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, has been selected as a release site for the crested ibis ( toki ). The toki is a Special Natural Monument designated by the Japanese government. On January 1, 2024, the Noto Peninsula was struck by a powerful earthquake that claimed 625 lives, including disaster-related deaths. Residents in the affected region have long awaited the return of these iconic birds to Noto's skies — a symbol of recovery and hope. On July 16, a council made up of four cities, five towns, and the prefectural government met in a conference room at Noto Airport in Wajima City. They decided to release the ibises in the Minamigata district of Hakui, a city near Kanazawa. This will be the first time crested ibises are released into the wild on Japan's mainland. Ishikawa was the last place on Honshu (Japan's main island) where wild ibises were seen. Once common throughout Japan, their population declined sharply due to pesticide use and environmental degradation. In 1981, the government captured the last five wild ibises in Ishikawa and moved them to Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture for breeding. In 2003, the final Japanese-born ibis died, rendering the species extinct in Japan. Since then, birds gifted from China have been bred in captivity and released into the wild. The population has since grown to about 580 individuals. To establish a self-sustaining population outside Sado, the national government began searching for new release sites. Ishikawa volunteered. With support from local farmers, the prefecture started building feeding habitats by increasing populations of loaches, pond snails, and other prey species. These efforts were recognized, and in February of this year, Noto was officially chosen as a new release site. A sign marking the crested ibis release model district, created by local high school students, in Hakui City, Ishikawa Prefecture. (©JAPAN Forward by Mika Sugiura) Minamigata was selected for its expansive rice paddies — sufficient to support the planned release of 15 to 20 birds — and its rich biodiversity, comparable to that of Sado. One local farmer, Eiji Hamada, has been preparing by creating biotope feeding areas in Hakui. "Twenty years ago, I dreamed of seeing ibises return to Hakui," he said. "I even printed a toki design on the rice bags I use to store my harvest. I can't believe that dream is actually coming true. It's overwhelming." Eiji Hamada practices environmentally friendly rice farming to support the crested ibis. (©JAPAN Forward by Mika Sugiura) To provide a better environment for the birds, Hamada cut his use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers by half. He also placed ibis decoys in the biotope, hoping the real birds will recognize them and feel encouraged to stay. He hopes other farmers will follow his lead. "The first step is helping the birds settle," he said. "Eventually, I hope rice grown in these eco-friendly paddies will command higher prices. I also hope the ibises will attract tourism like on Sado." The bag Hamada uses for brown rice, featuring a crested ibis design he created 20 years ago. He added red as a wish for the bird's release to become a reality. — Hakui City, Ishikawa Prefecture. (©JAPAN Forward by Mika Sugiura) "I'm so glad I've lived to see the day when ibises fly over their homeland again," said Yoshio Muramoto, a Hakui resident who turned 100 this April. He has spent more than 70 years involved in ibis conservation. Muramoto last saw a wild toki nearly 50 years ago. "At the time, I feared the ibis would disappear from Japan forever. It was heartbreaking," he said. Muramoto dreams of seeing crested ibises fly again over Hakui's skies. — Hakui City, Ishikawa Prefecture. (©JAPAN Forward by Mika Sugiura) He has worked closely with China to protect the species and even built a museum dedicated to the ibis on his property to help educate local children. In recognition of his efforts, Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko visited the museum in 2025. "We also get visits from rare storks here in Hakui," Muramoto added. "Just imagining the day when ibises and storks fly side by side in the skies fills me with excitement." Muramoto built a private crested ibis museum for local children. Hakui City, Ishikawa Prefecture (©JAPAN Forward by Mika Sugiura) He also attended the first ibis release ceremony on Sado. "I want to live to see the release here in Hakui next year," he said. The people of Ishikawa are united in their hope that the crested ibis will take flight as a symbol of their recovery. Author: Mika Sugiura このページを 日本語 で読む
